Although it is 50 km south of the Forbidden City, getting to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport is easier than it may seem. There is no need to book an expensive airport transfer or pay for an almost two hour taxi – the airport is easily accessible by public transportation.
New transport links will open in the coming months, but as of October 2019 the best option is to take the high speed “Daxing Airport Express” which connects directly with the Beijing Subway.
Quick Facts:
Approximate journey time: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes from downtown Beijing (2nd/3rd ring roads)
Cost: 35 RMB for Daxing Airport Express, plus 4-7 RMB for subway transfer.
Schedules from Caoqiao Subway Station:
First train: 06:00
Last train: 22:30
How to get to the airport:
First, make your way to Caoqiao Subway station (草桥站) on Line 10, where you will transfer to the Daxing Airport Express. Check the latest Beijing Subway Map here (Chinese only).
Caoqiao station is located quite far to the south, so you may want to allow at least an hour to get to this station. Getting here from elsewhere in the network will cost about 6 RMB.
When you get off at Caoqiao, follow the fairly obvious signs to the Daxing Airport Express. The transfer to the airport express station is a somewhat long walk, but you will be accompanied by many signs reassuring you that you are heading in the correct direction.
If you already have a Beijing Subway card, getting on the train is a simple as swiping the card. A trip to the airport will cost 35RMB. If you do not have a subway card, you can purchase a ticket from an attendant or at the machines in the station. Trains leave every 8-10 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long.
The train is very comfortable, with ample leg room and luggage racks. It travels at speeds of up to 155 kilometres per hour, making only one stop between Caoqiao and the airport. The approximately 40 kilometre journey takes 20 minutes.
When you arrive at Beijing Daxing Airport station, take the escalators to the top floor for check-in.
Have a smooth flight!
